B-Side Guys

Charlotte OC has weaponized her own unraveling, transforming the typically private act of falling apart into something deliberately public and strategically chaotic. “Cider and Black” operates as both confession and performance piece, where self-destruction becomes a carefully curated identity rather than an accidental byproduct of pain—a distinction that makes the track both more honest and more unsettling than typical breakup fare.

The Blackburn artist approaches her subject matter with the unflinching clarity of someone who’s learned to observe their own spiral from a safe emotional distance. Her neo-soul foundation provides warmth that contrasts sharply with the track’s exploration of intentional chaos, creating tension between the comfort of her delivery and the discomfort of her admissions. The production choices reflect an understanding that sometimes the most devastating truths require the gentlest musical treatment.

OC’s vocal performance embodies the peculiar confidence that emerges when you stop fighting your worst impulses and start directing them. Her delivery carries the weight of someone who’s discovered that being a “functioning warning sign” can feel temporarily empowering, even when you recognize the damage you’re causing. The track captures the specific psychology of someone who’s chosen destruction as agency—a form of control when everything else feels uncontrollable.

What makes “Cider and Black” particularly compelling is its acknowledgment that self-destructive behavior often masks itself as rebellion or authenticity. OC understands that there’s a seductive quality to embracing chaos, where wearing your mess “like a badge of honour” becomes its own form of identity. Her honesty about hurting others while hurting herself reflects a level of self-awareness that’s both impressive and troubling.

From her new EP Seriously Love, Go Home—named after her realization that she needed to “sort her s*** out”—”Cider and Black” establishes OC as an artist capable of examining her darkest impulses without romanticizing them. She’s created something that functions as both anthem and warning, proving that sometimes the most honest art emerges from the most dishonest periods of your life.